May 2019

San Francisco Chapter NewsletterThe American Guild of Organists

Submission deadline for the June / July issue is May 10

Dean’s Column, page 4

inside this issueJean Fisk to Retire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Peninsula Organ Academy Winter Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Orange County AGO Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Program Year 2018–2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Chapter Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Steve’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Job Placement & Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Information Box — Last updated 04/09/2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Events Calendar & Looking Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

May Event, page 4

Brainstorming, page 2

Dean’s Columnby William Vaughan

May Eventfrom William Vaughan

Annual Dinner and Concert Monday, May 20, 2019

Christ the Light Cathedral in Oakland.

5:45 p.m. – Gathering and Appetizers6:30 p.m. – Dinner 7:30 p.m. – Concert by Daniel Chang

Please click on this Eventbrite link to purchase your dinner ticket. Dinner will be $25 (actual value is $40)

and will be catered by Van Noy Catering (The caterers at the Cathedral). If you do not have a computer, please call Bill Vaughan at 707-373-0643 to reserve your spot.

A native of San Francisco, California, Daniel Chang is a Doctorate of Musical Arts candidate in the studio of David Higgs. He began his music studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Preparatory

Department where he studied composition with Michael Kaulkin and piano with June Choi Oh. He continued his education at the San Francisco Conservatory for a B.M.A. in composition studying composition with David Conte and piano with Alla Gladysheva. While at the conservatory, he

Please come to our annual dinner at Christ the Light Cathedral on Monday, May 20. We have lowered the cost

of the dinner so that more members will come. Details are in the column to the right.

Thank you to Cliff Hill (far right) for leading our choral reading session this past March 16 at Church of the Assumption in San Leandro. We gathered at noon on one of our first sun-filled Saturdays in 2019 for lunch right outside the church in a gathering space. We enjoyed salad, lasagna and brownies, all home-made by Mary Schirmer, a staff member here at Church of the Assumption. From lunch, we went into the church for our choral reading session. Cliff had prepared a wonderful packet filled with many anthems accessible for most choirs. It was delightful also to hear Cliff’s many stories about composers, conductors, churches, etc., that he has been associated with throughout his years as a distributor of all types of sheet music. Many thanks to Cliff, and all of you who came and sang! The singers were incredible sight-readers.

I recently had the great pleasure of getting involved with the Junior Bach Festival. My organ student, Tim Warncke, sent in a recording for a panel of judges to rate to see if he could play

May Brainstorming Sessions for the 2024 San Francisco Conventionfrom Matthew Burt

The AGO National Convention is coming to the Bay Area in 2024! Although five years may seem far away, now is the

time to begin thinking together about what exciting oppor-tunities we can offer our colleagues from across the Guild. Michael Velting, our National Councillor for Conventions, will be in town to help us begin the process of developing our vision and strategy as the hosts of this unique event.

SFAGO Newsletter • May 20192

Jean Fisk to Retirefrom William Vaughan

Jean Fisk, Music Director/Organist at Pinole United Methodist Church for 50 years, is retiring July 1st. She

oversees 6 vocal choirs: Chancel, Silangan Christian Ensemble, Men’s Chorale, Susanna Singers, Youth and Children’s Choirs, also Handbell choirs, Youth and Adult Praise Bands, and an Organ Scholars’ Program. One of her Organ Scholars returned as the Assistant Director of Music after graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in music.

Her Shalom Ringers have toured several Western States and Hawai’i. They were the featured bell choir at “Fellowship of United Methodists and Worship Arts” Convocation in Seattle several years ago.

Jean was the Co-convener of the California/Nevada Chapter of the Fellowship for several years. She was also Western Jurisdiction Rep for the National Fellowship for one term. She has done several workshops and written articles about her Organ Scholars’ Program. One of her Graduate Organ Scholars’ has started his own program.

Jean is a member of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. All 15 of her Organ Scholars have attended various Pipe Organ Encounters.

Jean was selected as one of six Americans to study at the Royal College of Music in London one summer. She also went with a group of organists who toured English Organs, and was one of several chosen to play in a concert at Bristol Cathedral.  s

San Francisco Peninsula Organ Academy 2019 Winter Trip from Angela Kraft Cross

The San Francisco Peninsula Organ Academy thanks the SFAGO Special Projects committee for its generous support of our winter trip!

The SFPOA was founded in 2014 as a non-profit organization to offer generous scholarships to young organists and lead them on short-term intensive study trips to France.

This year’s study trip was a thirteen day adventure, December 26–January 8, featuring fifteen-year-old organists Dominic Pang from San Jose and Chase Olson from San Rafael. Our trip started in Lyon, France, where the two young organists took a cumulative nine hours of lessons with Louis Robilliard on the historic 1880

Cavaillé-Coll organ at St François de Sales. Repertoire covered included Dubois Toccata, Gigout Toccata, Franck Pastorale and Choral 3 (Chase) and Vierne Naïades and Carillon de Westminster and Liszt Fantasie and Fugue in B*A*C*H (Dominic). Louis Robilliard is a world-respected Liszt scholar in addition to his expertise in French Romantic repertoire.

On January 1, we took the TGV train to Paris and settled into more learning adventures including an elementary improvisation coursein three sessions with Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin at

her home (the Jacques Grunenwald organ) and master classes with Sophie at St Sulpice (Widor’s organ), Aude Heurtematte at St Gervais (the Couperin dynasty organ), Christophe Mantoux at St Severin (French Classical), Frédéric Blanc on impro-visation at his home (the Duruflé apartment) and Jean-Baptiste Robin at Versailles (French Classical). 

Winter Trip, page 3

Louis Robilliard, Chase Olson, Dominic Pang and Angela Kraft Cross

Chase Olson, Aude Heurtematte and Dominic Pang

Chase Olson, Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Dominic Pang and Angela Kraft Cross

Louis Robilliard and Chase Olson

We want to include as many voices as possible, and so are holding two brainstorming sessions, one in San Francisco and another in Palo Alto:

• Monday May 6 at 7:00 p.m. St. Mary’s Cathedral (Choir Room), 1111 Gough St., San Francisco

• Tuesday May 7 at 7:00 p.m. All Saints Church (Multi-Purpose Room), 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto

At both locations wine and beverages will be served.

Please join us if you are able—we need your experiences, skills, and ideas to make this an unforgettable Convention both for our local chapters and for the entire AGO. Please contact Matthew Burt, Convention Coordinator, with any questions at matthewburt@gmail.com or 650-283-7512.  s

Brainstorming, from front page

SFAGO Newsletter • May 2019 3

In addition, Chase, Dominic and I per-formed a joint “audition” or recital after the Sunday morning mass January 6 at Frédéric Blanc’s church, Notre Dame d’Auteuil, on his newly refurbished Cavaillé-Coll organ. Chase performed Daquin Noël X and Dubois Toccata, and Dominic performed Vierne’s Naïades and Carillon de Westminster from the Pièces de Fantasie, both to rave acclaim!

On this trip, Chase and Dominic received a cumu-lative 26.5 hours of private and semi-private lessons from France’s leading organ scholars on key historic instru-ments from both the French classical and symphonic traditions. Experiences such as these add an enormous depth of understanding in organ performance. Thank you so very much to the Special Projects committee in supporting the scholarship fund of the SFPOA!  s

Winter Trip, from page 2

Louis Robilliard and Dominic Pang

Dominic Pang, Angela Kraft Cross, Chase Olson and Frédéric Blanc

SFAGO Newsletter • May 20194

participated in masterclasses by leading composers, including John Adams, and also attended the European American Musical Alliance in Paris, France, where he studied with composer Narcis Bonet. After graduating from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Daniel began studying organ under the direction of Simon Berry and served as organ scholar at St Dominic’s Catholic Church in San Francisco. At Eastman, Daniel was awarded the Gerald Barnes Prize for excellence in pipe organ and was recently awarded Third Prize in the National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance at the 2018 National Convention for the American Guild of Organists. Daniel is currently director of music at St John’s Episcopal Church in Canandaigua, New York.

The Menu:AT THE BAR

Self-Serve Varietal Wine, Beer,Soft Drinks, Sparkling & Still Water

APPETIZERSImported & Domestic Cheese Display

Including warm Brie with ApricotSkewered Caprese with Pesto SauceFresh mozzarella, tomato and basil leavesOlive & Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade

with house made crostini

BUFFET DINNERCaesar Salad

Cabernet Braised Short RibSeared Salmon

Oven-Roasted PotatoesGrilled VegetablesAssorted Breads

Assorted Fruit TartsCoffee

May Event, from page 1

in one of the many Festival concerts around the Bay Area. Just going through that process with a 12-year old was enlightening. He made an amazing recording, in my opinion. The Prelude, S.531, took a few takes, but the Fugue took only one take! I was stunned because he did this recording from memory.

When the time came to pick a venue from three choices, I had him choose St Mark’s Lutheran Church in San Francisco. I wanted him to experience a ‘Bach’ organ. He took to that organ instantly, even with the flat pedal board. Because of my early organ training with Sandra Soderlund, who taught me to play Bach with ‘all toes’ pedaling, I am teaching my student the same. You do get instant phrasing. The Prelude begins with a long pedal solo, and there was one note in that solo that I had Tim play with his heel, which was possible on the Rodgers at Assumption, but not possible at St Mark’s. I asked him to change the pedaling on that note, and not only was there no ‘tweak,’ but there was instant phrasing. He was able to make that change at the last minute. Oh, the brain of a young child!

On the evening of the performance, I looked at the perfor-mance booklet, and to my surprise, there were about 25 young musicians playing in just this concert. Come to find out, this was the last of twelve concerts. This year Junior Bach set a record having 468 auditions representing the entire Bay Area. At the twelve concerts, there were 184 performances from stu-dents ranging in age from 5 to 21. Long live Johann Sebastian Bach.

Special thanks to SFAGO member and Junior Bach President Angela Kraft Cross and Robert, her husband, who were the stage hands moving instruments and stands constantly during the performance.  s

Dean’s Column, from page 1

AGO 2019 West Region ConventionOrange County, California June 30-July 3, 2019

The following links will take you directly to individual areas of interest:

Schedule Artists Venues Workshops Registration Hotel & Travel

SFAGO Newsletter • May 2019 5

September 16St. Paul’s, Oakland 4:00 pm Evensong and Opening Dinner

October – No Event

November 17Trinity, San Francisco 4:30 pm Rich Spotts – Tournemire

January 13, 2019Grace Cathedral 4:00 pm Bruce Neswick

February 18, 2019LOPC • Eric Walling’s residence • 10:00 am East Bay Organ crawlSchoenstein & Co factory, Benecia

March 16, 2019Assumption Church, San Leandro 12:00 noon Lunch Lunch cost $10 1:00 pm Choral Reading session – Cliff Hill

April 2019 – No Event

May 20, 2019Closing Banquet and Recital 5:45 pm - Gathering & AppetizersChrist the Light Cathedral, Oakland 6:30 pm - Dinner 7:30 pm - Concert: Daniel Chang

SFAGO Program Year 2018–2019

SFAGO Newsletter • May 20196

The SFAGO wishes to thank the following people for their support of the Recital Series.

Bombarde ($1000+)

Tuba Mirabilis ($500–$999)Robert Tall & Associates, Inc.

Trompette en Chamade ($250–$499)John Agraz Patricia DuringThomas FlesherFather Robert RienSusanne RommelJason SurlesJon TownsendJohn WalkoArthur WestTimothy Zerlang

San Francisco AGO Chapter Recital Series Donors

Clarion ($100–$249)Charles CorumClara J. CoGregory S. De SantisJud HammonAngela Kraft CrossLarry H. MariettaJames MartinLilyane M. Moulton Natsuko MurayamaChris NicholsAllen G. SchellChristoph TietzeWilliam VaughanWilliam A. Visscher

Thank you very much for your donations! There is still plenty of time to send in a tax-deductible gift.

These lists were compiled from AGO National remit forms.

Hautbois ($50–$99)George E. BeckerJosephine BenningtonLeilani CamaraElizabeth ForsythJoseph A. HansenJohn Karl HirtenDavid R. Howitt Gary W. JenningsStephen LuzmoorHelen PereiraW. Wayne RitchieEric R. StevensGary C. ToopsMatthew Walsh

Krummhorn ($25–$49)Jeanette CoolRobert H. Douglass Steven C. GrayJoseph A. Hansen Christopher KeadyMartin A. LilleyCarolyn MarTerry M. O’ConnorMarian E. Ott Jan Robitscher Michael W. Secour

Vox Humana ($1–$24)Patricia L. HarreHunter X. Harville-MoxleyJoe E. McClainAntonia VandeKempVlada Volkova-Moran

San Francisco AGO Chapter Donations

The SFAGO wishes to thank the following people for their financial support to the Chapter Donation category.

John M. Agraz Alan C. BlackCharles CorumSteven C. GrayJud HammonHunter X. Harville-MoxleyDavid R. HowittReiko Oda LaneLilyane M. Moulton Natsuko Murayama

Terry M. O’ConnorMarian E. OttDon PearsonSteven R. RauschW. Wayne RitchieDonald P. SearsGary C. ToopsJon TownsendAntonia VandeKempVlada Volkova-MoranArthur West

The SFAGO thanks the following people for their financial support to the International Mailing category.

SFAGO Special Projects Donations The SFAGO wishes to thank the following people

for their financial support to the Special Projects category.

John M. AgrazGeorge E. BeckerJosephine BenningtonJeanette CoolPatricia H. DuringMadelyne EwerDouglas H. Franks

Joseph A. HansenDavid R. HowittNatsuko MurayamaHelen PereiraChristoph TietzeGary C. ToopsVlada Volkova-Moran

SFAGO International Mailing Donations

Terry M. O’ConnorVlada Volkova-Moran

SFAGO Newsletter • May 2019 7

SFAGO Newsletter is published monthly, August thru May, with a Summer issue for June/July, by the San Francisco Chapter, American Guild of Organists. Opinions stated herein are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect official policies of this Chapter. The deadline for receipt of all newsletter items is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Dean: William Vaughan, billyv32@gmail.com Sub Dean: Eric Choate, ericchoatemusic@gmail.com Sub Dean Elect: Susanne Rommel, susanne.rommel@sbcglobal.net Secretary: Elizabeth Forsyth, e_forsyth@yahoo.com Treasurer: Michael Page, michael.erwin.page@gmail.com Registrar: Christoph Tietze, 415.924.1377, orgelchris@yahoo.com Webmaster: Frank Torrano, ftorrano@gmail.com Chapter Website: www.sfago.org

Newsletter Departments: Send your entries to the appropriate editor; all submissions are due by 10th of the month preceding publication Events Calendar Listings: Brian Swager, 415.551.7866, sfagocal@gmail.com Job Placement & For Sale Listings: David Howitt, 510-437-0254, dhowitt@sjbalameda.org Obituary Listings: William Vaughan, billyv32@gmail.com Newsletter Articles & Paid Ads: George Morten, 209.565.6660, georgemorten.744@gmail.com 20

18–2019

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Classified AdsCollected by David Howitt

This information is provided as a service to SFAGO members and the employing institutions. Inclusion of information in this column does not imply endorsement by the SFAGO. Send Job Referrals items, Substitutes Available notices, and For Sale items to: dhowitt@sjbalameda.org. Deadline for the June / July issue is May 10. Online listings available at: https://www.sfago.org/classifieds

POSITIOnS AvAILABLE

Steve’s Cornerby Steve Repasky

Four pieces by Myron J. Roberts, 1912–2004

Litany. New York: H.W. Gray Co., 1958. Saint Cecilia Series no. 848. Accessible piece features ostinato quarter note chords supporting a soaring soprano part reaching into the 5th octave on the organ’s keyboard. The piece is an A-B-A form with the middle growing in sound and harmonic complexity.

Prelude and Trumpetings for organ. Belwin Mills Pub. Corp., 1961. This is Mr. Roberts’ most popular piece. The prelude beings mysteriously on dark reeds, strings, solo flute and low-pitched ranks. A climax then heralds the blazing solo trumpet in a Rumba dance style. A great selection for Eastertide.

Homage to Perotin. New York: H.W. Gray Co., 1956. Saint Cecilia Series no. 832. Magister Perontius Magnus directed the music at Notre-Dame Cathedral from 1183 to 1236. This organ solo homage to Perotin exhibits driving rhythms and parallel 5ths in the Ars Antiqua style.

Pastorale and Aviary. New York: H.W. Gray Co., 1956. Saint Cecilia Series no. 954. This rhythmical piece may be played as a prelude for the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi as it features bird calls most notably the call of the Cuckoo.

Unfortunately, all four pieces are currently out of print. One may request the scores via Inter Library Loan or purchase them through Amazon or Abe Books.  s

ElECTRIC ORgANIST FOR CIRCUS SHOw – [location to be determined] The lights dim and the show begins. My name is Samson Y. Hiss, circus composer. I’ve written a new circus music show and I’m looking for an electric organist to join the band. The story and all the music has been written. And now recruiting top talent is in full force. Rehearsals will start in September. The show will be staged in October. I’m planning a two-weekend run. Exact dates and location are still TBD. Come, tickle us with some tonewheel. For more info email or call: hiss@samsonyhiss.com, 510-927-4477

SFAGO Newsletter • May 20198

Bay Area Concert CalendarCollected by Brian Swager

Events, dates, times, and locations are subject to change without notice. Compiled from flyers, press releases, and listings submitted by members and organizations. SFAGO is not responsible for errors, although every effort is made to be accurate. Submission deadline for the June / July issue is May 10. Send event listings to sfagocal@gmail.com. For the most up-to-date calendar, visit www.sfago.org, click on Calendar.

Recurring VenuesChurches and institutions offering programs on a regular basis have been assigned ab-breviations so as to save space in our listings. Abbreviations are listed below with the full name of the venue. When no city is stated, San Francisco is assumed.

May2019

CSMA: Cath. of St Mary of the Assumption GC: Grace Cathedral LOH: Legion of Honor Museum MDB: Mission Dolores Basilica SME-B: St Mark’s Episcopal Ch, Berkeley SPE-BU: St Paul’s Episcopal Ch, Burlingame TESPE: Trinity & St Peter’s Episcopal Ch

Looking Ahead

p

May4 Saturday3pm. San Francisco City Chorus; Larry Marietta, Conductor; John Walko, Organ & Piano. Music of Schubert, Mendelssohn, Gretchaninov. Tickets $20, senior/student $15, high school students & SFAGO members free. Old First Presbyterian Church

4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

5 Sunday4pm. Gary Desmond, Organ. $10 suggested donation. GC

4pm. Jin Kyung Lim, Organ. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

11 Saturday2:30pm. Daniel Gonzalez, Organ. St John the Evangelist Episcopal Church

4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

12 Sunday4pm. Festival of Marian Hymns; Rebekah Wu conducting the Benedict Sixteen. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

4pm. Calvary Presbyterian Church Choir & Orchestra; Michael Conley, Conductor; John Walko & Eric Choate, Organ. Music of Vierne, Rutter. Tickets $20

4pm. Jerome Lenk, Organ; Emil Miland, Cello. $10 suggested donation. MDB

6:05pm. Jonathan Schakel, Organ. Preceded by 5:30 Evensong. Freewill offering. Reception follows. SME-B

18 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

5pm. Choral Evensong. Choirs of St Paul’s, Burlingame, Trinity Cathedral, Portland, and Grace Cathedral SF Choir of Men & Boys. Music of Howells, Goodenough, Wesley. Followed by choir celebration dinner (tickets). SPE-BU

June1 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

2 Sunday4pm. Tom Winpenny, Organ. $10 suggested donation. GC

4pm. Yuhan Niu, Organ. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

5pm. Evensong. Followed by organ recital by Ben Bachmann at 5:35pm. TESPE

8 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

9 Sunday4pm. David Hatt & Christoph Tietze, Organ. Celebrating the 175th anniversary of Eugène Gigout. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

6:05pm. Malcolm Matthews, Organ. Preceded by 5:30 Evensong. Reception follows. SME-B

14 Friday7pm. David Jaronowski, Organ. Tickets $20; seniors/students $15. Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

15 Saturday4pm. John Walko, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

16 Sunday4pm. Justan Foster, Organ. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

19 Sunday4pm. Spring Concert of the St Brigid School Honor Choir. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

4pm. Gail Archer, Organ. $15. St Bede’s Episcopal Church, Menlo Park

24 Friday7pm. Hans Uwe Hielscher, Organ. Free will offering. Grace Episcopal Church, St Helena

25 Saturday4pm. John Walko, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

26 Sunday4pm. Hans Uwe Hielscher, Organ. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

July6 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

7 Sunday4pm. Janet Yieh, Organ. $10 suggested donation. GC

4pm. Cathedral Widor Festival. David Hatt, Organ. Symphony No. 7. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

13 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

14 Sunday4pm. Pierre Zevort, Organ; with Augustin Zevort, Trumpet. French music for Bastille Day. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

20 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

21 Sunday4pm. Cathedral Widor Festival. Angela Kraft Cross, Organ. Symphony No. 8. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

27 Saturday4pm. Jonathan Dimmock, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

28 Sunday4pm. Mateusz Rzewuski, Organ. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

22 Saturday4pm. Angela Kraft Cross, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

23 Sunday4pm. Cathedral Widor Festival. David Hatt, Organ. Symphony No. 1. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA

29 Saturday4pm. David Hegarty, Organ. Museum admission varies. LOH

30 Sunday4pm. Jin Kyung Lim, Organ. Works for keyboard duet. Free parking. Freewill offering. CSMA